Die Energiekehrtwende in Earth4All Deutschland

In October 2024, the Wuppertal Institute and the Club of Rome published their German-language book "Earth for All Germany – Aufbruch in eine Zukunft für Alle" (English roughly: Towards a future for all). The authors present proposals on how to overcome environmental crises while safeguarding democracy and prosperity. They argue that the challenges should not be viewed in isolation, but that the required solution components can positively complement and reinforce each other. In the book, the researchers shed light on six interrelated turnarounds that will be most decisive for social change: overcoming poverty, reducing inequality, a different usage of resources, promoting empowerment, sustainable nutrition and advancing the energy transition.

With this Wuppertal Paper "Die Energiekehrtwende in Earth4All Deutschland" (English: The Energy Turnaround in Earth for All Germany), Peter Hennicke, member of the Club of Rome and Senior Advisor at the Wuppertal Institute, presents a deep dive focusing specifically on the energy transition. He particularly emphasises the necessary combination of the three pillars efficiency, consistency and sufficiency, which are essential for sustainable climate and energy policy.

Hennicke begins by outlining the controversial history of the German energy transition since the 1980s. On this basis, he addresses current and expected conflicts of interest as well as existing path dependencies – such as the transport sector's dependence on fossil fuels – and outlines policy measures that can be employed to resolve them. He contrasts this with a scenario of "business as usual", in which the urgently needed socio-ecological transformation is not driven forward with sufficient determination, and describes the foreseeable grave consequences for economy, environment and society. Hennicke then discusses the financial viability and social feasibility of implementing all six turnarounds at the same time and explains what science can do to support policymakers and provide them with the necessary broad knowledge base.

 

Peter Hennicke:

Die Energiekehrtwende in Earth4All Deutschland

Wuppertal, 2025

(Wuppertal Paper no. 204)